Railway-crossing signal



Nqv. 3, 1925. 1,559,876

G. R. HUDSON I RAILWAY caossme smmm FiledMay 26, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ander :L\ t Q40 7: 15.05 0

Q I 8mm,

Nov. 3, 1925. 1,559,876

G. R. HUDSON RAILWAY CROSSING SIGNAL Filed May 26, 1925 2 Sheets-shat 2 5' Qatar autumn Patented Nov. 3, 1925.

UNHTED STATES GEORGE n. HUDSON, or surname, NEBRASKA.

' neinwnv onoss ns SIGNAL.

Application filed May 26, 1925. Serial No. 32,979.

To all 1071012142 may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE R. HUDsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Superior, in the county of Nuckolls and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a'Railway- Crossing Signal, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in railway crossing signals, and has for its principal object to provide a visual signal which is arranged preferably at the inter' section of a highway with the rails of a rail- ,road for the purpose of warning of an ap proaching train. One of the important objects of the present invention is to provide a railway signal which will be automatically actuated by the approach of a train, the signal being moved to an inoperative position by the train after the same has passed the grade crossing.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic signal for grade crossings of the above mentioned character which will at all times be positive and eflicient in its operation, the signal in'no way interfering with the passing of vehiclesover the rails at the crossing when in an inoperative position, nor affecting the traveling of a train over the rails.

A still further object is to provide a railway crossing signal of the above memtioned character which is simple in con struction, inexpensive, strong and durable and further well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description taken,

in connection with the accompanying drawlngs.

In the accompanymg drawings forming'a part. of this application, and in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the same: V

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the signal embodying my invention showing them'aniier in whlch the same is associated with the rails, and intersecting highway.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof, the

signal being disposed in its normal inopera-v tive position.

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the arrangement of the parts when the s gnal is in an operative position.

I Figure 4L is a fragmentary side elevation v of one of the trip members.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view therethrough, and

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of the latch forming apart ofthe present invention. 7

In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numerals 1 and 2 designate a pair of supporting standards which are arranged on opposite sides of a grade crossing A adjacent the rails B, the standards being preferably located a suitable distance from the grade crossing. A block 3 is supported below the rails B in any suitable manner, and is located at the central or intermediate portion ofthe highway adjacent the rails in a manner as clearly illustrated in Figure 1. The visual signal comprises a suitable'metalhc plate 4:, the same being pivot'ally secured onthe outer face of the block 3, as illustrated at 5. The pivot is preferably arranged eccentrically of the plate, and this feature is more particularly, and clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings. The plate 4 which comprises the visual signal member is provided with a centrally located slot 6, and the purpose thereof will hereinafter be more fully described. One of the sides of the plate 4 is bent to provide a lip 7 ,said lip being formed adjacentthe slot 6, and the purpose-of this lip will also hereinafter be more". fully described. The plate 1 is of such size as to enable the same to be readily visible by a vehicle which is traveling on the highway and about to apv A pair of trip members designated gener-' allyvby the numeralsS'and 9 are associated with the supporting standards 1 and 2 respectively, and each of the aforementioned trip members include the complementary armsflO and 11, each of which is formed of a single piece of sheet metal which is folded along its longitudinal center. The upper portion of the lower arm 10 of each of the trip members is cut away at its back as illustrated at 12, so that the upper complementary arm 11 may swing rearwardly on its pivot 13 so as to prevent the breaking of the tip should the train move in a direction reverse from that in which the trips are adapted to swing.

The pivot- 13 which provides a connection for the complementary arms of each of the trip members also provides a means whereby the respective trip members are pivotally supported on the inner sides, of the standards, the trip 8 being pivotal'ly supported onthe standard 1 whilethe trip 9 is similarly supported on. the standard 2 As is clearly illustrated i rFiguiie 5, the pivot is in the form of an elongatedbolt. which hasa nut 1ft threaded onthe threaded end thereof: so that, the complementary arms of each or the trip members may be readily assembled or disassembled. An axial coil spring jis associatedwith thepivot bolt llo't each of the. trip members and cooperates with, the. complementary arms for n'ormally n' aintaining the same in vertical alignment \vitheach other, thearms 01? end portions of the coilspring engaging the respective complementary arms of the. trips. is illustratedat 16. A, wheel 17 is rotatably supported in the upper. end of the ,upper arm 11 of each of the trip members, and the purpose thereof; will be presently apparent.

An elongated piece of wire 18., is'secured at one end to oneend ofthe plate. 4 as at 19, the other end of the wire beingsecured to the transversely extendingpiir20which is carried'by the ldwer arm 10 of: the trip member 8.

An angularly shaped lat-ch 21 is pivotally supported, intermediate. its, ends on the top of the blockz asat 22. One-of the arms of the. angularly shaped latch 21; terminates. in the lateralextension 23 the end ofwhich is beveled as illustrated at-2t for cooperation with the. lip 7 formed in the side.o.f:the}plate 4: andfor further. ooperationwiththe slot 6.

The. other arm of. the angularly shaped latch 21- is attachedztoa wire 25, the other end of the wirecable extending over a pulley-26 which issecured on the inner side of the standard 2 adjacent the lower end of the lowermost arm oi the trip memben Qfand the end 0t; this,wire.cable,'is secured to .a transversely extending pin 27 which issuppo rted by thelowerportion of the lowermost arm 10 of the trip member 9;

A coil spring 28;; is associated. with. the lowermost arm ot-the trip member, 9Ifor normally holding the same in. its vertical )osition. and the other trio member 8. is

normally maintained in a vertical position through the medium. of the, coil spring. 29 i which is secured at one end to theslow er. end

of the standard2 ,andinore particularly to the, laterally extending bar 30 associated with the. standard, the other end ofthejcoil spring being secured to a rod 81, theother end ofthe rod being connected to the pivoted plate t at the connection19 which is provided for one end of the wire 18. Suit able transversely extending stop pins 32 and 33 respectively are associated with the standards 1 and 2 for limiting the swinging movement of the respective trip members in one direction.

The angularly shaped latch 21 is normally maintained in the position shown in Figure l of the drawings through the medium of the coil springs 3 1, a stop pin 35' extending, upwardly from the top of the bloc-k3, and cooperating with the lateral extension23 of theangularly shaped latch 21 for limiting the. swinging movement thereof in one direction.

Normally, the parts are arranged asshown in Figure 2 of the drawings, and the signal member l is disposed in an inoperative positionentirely out of view. As the train approaches the grade crossing intraveling in over the wheel 17, the trip member 8 will be swung forwardly causing: the signalmemher 4; to swing upwardly on its pivot 5 against the tension", of the coil spring 29, and assoonas the, slot 6 is disposed directly oppositethe latch 21,,the end of. the lateral extension 23 formed on one of the arms of the latch will enter the slot, and thereby hold theisignal memberA-in a vertical position so that the samewill project above the rails and be disposed substantially in the central portionot the highway so that persons approaching the grade crossing will readily see the signal, and thus be warned of the approaching of a train.

After the train haspassed over the, grade crossing, and the member 36; engages: the wheel lfl carried by the upperw endof-the uppermost arm of the other trip member 9, the. latter will swing in a forward direc tion on its pivot, causing a forward pull to be exerted on the. wire cable 25, and as the latter is connected to the inner endof-the pivoted latch 21, the .latchwill :be caused to swing on its pivot so that the beveledendj24: of the. lateral extension 23 which extends i11- to thesl ot 6 will be .broughtout of-engagement with the slot, and the spring 29 totions when the train has passed over the wheel of the trip member 9, thus refitting the trip and the signal, as well as the latch so as to enable other trains to actuate the signal in'the same mannen As heretofore stated, by constructing the trip members as described, the same will be prevented from becoming broken and rendering the signal inoperative should a train engage the trip members when traveling in a direction reverse from that heretofore described.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description, that a railway crossing signal has been provided which will be automatic in its operation, and will furthermore at all times be positive and efficient in carrying out the purposes for which it is designed. The simplicity in which the present device is con structed furthermore enables the same to be installed at a grade crossing without affecting or interfering with the movement of trains or vehicles over the crossing.

While I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is tobe understood that minor changes in the size, shape, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. An automatic railway signal for grade crossings comprising in combination, a pivoted signal member supported adjacent the grade crossing, said signal member being provided with a slot, means for moving the signal member to an operative position, a latch cooperating with said slot for holding the signal member in said operative position, and means for effecting the return of the signal member to its normal inoperative position. I

2. An automatic railway signal for grade crossings comprising in combination, a pivoted signal member supported adjacent the grade crossings, said signal member being provided with a slot, means for moving the signal member to an operative position, a latch cooperating with said slot for holding the signal member in said operative position, means for releasing the latch, and means for simultaneously effecting the return of the signal member' to its normal inoperative position when the latch is released.

3. An automatic railway signal for grade crossings comprising in combination, a pivoted signal member supported adjacent the grade crossing, said pivot being eccentrically associated with the signal member, a pair of trip members supported on opposite sides of the grade crossing, one of said trip members being connected to said signal member for moving the same to an operative position when the trip memberis actuated by a train approaching the; gradecrossn g, a latch for holdin the si 'nalmember in an o erative V c D posit on, a connection between sa d latch and the other trip member, sai' d latch, adapted to be disengaged from the signal'member: when the last mentioned trip member, is actuated by the train, and means for effecting the return of the signal member and the first mentioned trip member to their normal positions.

4; An automaticrailway signal for grade crossings comprising in combination, a pivoted signal member supported adjacent the grade crossing, said pivot being eccentrically associated with the signal member, a pair oftrip members supported on opposite sides of the grade crossing, one of said trip members being connected to said signal memher for moving the same to an operative position when the trip member is actuated by a train approaching the grade crossing, a latch for holding the signal member in an operative position, a connection between said latch and the other trip member, said latch adapted to be disengaged from the signal member when the last mentioned trip member isactuated by the train, means for effecting the return of the signal member and the first mentioned trip member to their normal positions, an additional means for returning the latch and the second trip member to their normal positions.

5. An automatic railway signal for grade crossings comprising in combination, an eccentrically pivoted signal member supported adjacent the grade crossing, a pair of trip members supported on opposite sides of the grade crossing, aconnection between one of the trip members, and the signal member, whereby the same may be moved to an operative position when said trip member is actuated by a train approaching the grade crossing when traveling in one direction, said signal member being provided with a slot, a pivoted latch cooperating therewith for holding the signal member in an operative position, means for connecting the latch to the other trip member whereby said latch is disengaged from the slot when the last mentioned trip member is actuated by the train passing thereover, and resilient means for effecting the return of the signal member and the first mentioned trip member to their normal positions.

6. An automaticrailway signal for grade crossings comprising in combination, an cecentrically pivoted signal member supported adjacent the grade crossing, said signal member being provided with a slot, a pair of supporting standards arranged on opposite sides of the grade crossing, a pair of trip' members-pivota-lly supported on the respective standards, a connection between one of the pivoted trip members and said signal member whereby the signal member is moved to an operativeposition when a train actuates the pivoted trip member when traveling in one direction, a pivoted latch. cooperating With the slot for holding the signal member in its operative position, a connection between the pivoted latch, andthe other pivoted trip member for releasing the latch from engagement with the slot when the train passes over the last mentioned trip member, and means for effecting the return of the signal member-to its normal inoperativeposition after the latch has been disengaged from the slot in the signal member.

In testimony whereof I affixmy signature.

GEORGE R. HUDSON. 

